S1 C1-C2 CORALINE & THE HORRORS OF PERFECTION

run-down house

a building in poor condition (due to neglect or age)

portal to an alternate world

a gateway to another dimension

enthused opinion

a view expressed with great excitement and energy

to give sb a jolt

to give sb a sudden shock

to pander to the audience

to provide what an audience wants

to blend various elements

to combine different parts

cohesive

forming a united and logically consistent whole

whimsical

playfully, quaint or strange, especially in an appealing way

to pounce

to spring or swoop suddenly so as to seize or attack

to take on a menacing design

to adopt an appearance that seems threatening or dangerous

mildly off-putting

slightly disconcerting or unsettling

to maintain a consistent visual identity

to keep a uniform appearance

gothically-charged

intensely infused with gothic style or ambiance

movie sequence

a distinct segment of a film forming a narrative unit

twisted angles

camera shots using unnatural or distorted perspectives

ingenuity

the quality of being clever, original, and inventive

yearning for sth

a feeling of intense longing for sth

off-kilter

not quite right or balanced, slightly askew

pitch-perfect

completely accurate or appropriate in tone or style

bratty

annoyingly ill-mannered or selfish

endearing

inspiring affection or warm sympathy

to convey sth

to communicate or make an idea or feeling known

elaborate visual spectacle

a visually rich and complex display

character arc

the transformation or inner journey of a character

gangly

lanky

generic interactions

commonplace exchanges between people

to sabotages the catharsis

to deliberately ruin the emotional release intended for an audience

chilling story

a narrative that evokes a deep sense of dread

cinematic jewel

cinematic gem

to gain a cult following

to develop a small but intensely devoted audience

to spawn numerous theories

to generate a large number of speculative explanations

uncannily similar

strangely alike in a way that is unsettling

hellbent on sth

recklessly determined to achieve sth

offbeat nature

a quirky and unconventional character of sth

outlandish

bizarre or strange to an extreme degree

shape-shifting villain

an antagonist that can change its physical form

to prey on children

to hunt on children

there's more to sth/sb than meets the eye

sth/sb is more complex than it appears

nonchalant attitude

a casually calm and indifferent manner

divination powers

supernatural abilities to foresee the future

counterpart

a person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another person or thing in a different place or situation

to conjure an image

to create a vivid mental image

enclosed in a horrible world

trapped within a terrifying reality

crawling with bugs

teeming or infested with insects

to give audiences shivers

to cause viewers to feel a thrill of fear

rooted in folk beliefs

originating from traditional superstitions

devouring nature

a consuming and destructive character

to expand the movie's lore

to add depth to the film's background story

canon theories

explanations considered part of the official narrative

eponymous heroine

a protagonist whose name is also the title of the story

idyllic version

an idealized and perfectly picturesque form of sth

blissful

in a state of utter joy and contentment

nightmare-inducing

causing terror or severe anxiety

insectoid villain

an antagonist with physical traits resembling an insect

to generate fear

to deliberately create a feeling of dread

to have malicious motives

to possess sinister intentions

juxtaposition of sth

the act of placing two contrasting elements side by side

malevolence

a state of having a wish to do evil to others; hostility

to smother sb with love

to give overwhelming affection that feels oppressive

to infer sth

to reach an opinion or decide that sth is true on the basis of information that is available

innate curiosity

inborn desire to know or learn sth

to wander

to move about without a fixed purpose or destination

to rebuff sb’s pleas

to refuse sb’s requests in an unkind way

to other sb

to ostracize sb

misconstrued

interpreted or understood incorrectly

to tug on one’s heartstrings

to stir one's emotions

villainy

wicked or criminal behavior

astute portrayal of parenthood

a perceptive depiction of parenthood

to provide instant gratification

to give immediate pleasure or satisfaction

to reciprocate

to respond to an action with a corresponding one

under the guise of

pretending to be one thing while being another

overt representation

a very obvious depiction

to frame oneself as the victim

to present oneself as the wronged one

negligent

failing to take proper care of sth

to forgo CGI

to deliberately choose not to use CGI

cutting-edge

using the most recent and advanced techniques

to dissect sth

to analyze sth in minute and critical detail

to incorporate grotesque imagery

to include twisted and unsettling visuals

to utilize ancient forms of storytelling

to employ narrative methods from classic traditions

to reinforce the central theme

to emphasize the main idea

strained relationship

a troubled relationship

secret passage into sth

a hidden entrance leading to a place

to shower sb with sth

to give sb an overwhelming amount of sth

to harken back to classic fairytales

to evoke the style of traditional folk stories

to plot against sb

to make a secret plan to harm sb

to conceal sinister intentions

to hide malevolent purposes

to strike a deal with sb

to make an agreement with sb

animal ally

a creature that provides assistance to a character

to echo sth

to closely imitate a style feeling or idea

dire stakes

severe and serious consequences that result from a situation

to teach sb a virtue of gratitude

to instill the moral quality of being thankful

foreign

strange and unfamiliar

unnerving features

physical traits that cause discomfort or fear

to create dread and suspense

to generate a feeling of impending doom

to refrain from sth

to deliberately avoid doing or using sth

tempted by sth

enticed to do sth, often against one's better judgment

to leverage the power of storytelling

to use the effectiveness of storytelling as a tool

exceptional

unusually good and outstanding

to derive theories from sth

to develop abstract explanations from sth

narratively-driven

primarily motivated or advanced by the story itself